Filler valve for container filling machines



Feb. 8, 1949; J. KANTOR ET AL FILLER VALVE FOR CONTAINER FILLING MACHINES Filed June 25, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS JAMES KANTOR -.L. EDWARD MAROVITZ flow/Z29 My Za ATT RNEYS Feb. 8, 1949.

FILLER VALVE FOR CONTAINER FILLING MACHINES Filed June 25, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hllll Fig.6

INVENTORS JAMES KANTOR H J. KANTOR ET AL 2,461,326

BY EDWARD MAROWTZ vmi% Mm ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 8, 1949 UNITED smras FILEER; VALVE FUR CON MAGHINES J amesZ-Kan-tor and Edward Marovitz', Chicago. Ill;

The: present-invention relatesto improvementsin: container filling machines primarily adapted for.- filling' bottles and. similar containers. withcarbonated? beverages.

More specifically theuinvention relates to. an

improvement in thefi llin-gvalve'now used-ina large number of. certaintypes of commercial filling machines in: bottlingand other plantst In certain types. ofcommercial,fillingmachines,

the mach-inesare provided. with asuitable tank,

in which is adapted totbe maintained a supplyof carbonated beverage or water. These tanks: are provided with a plurality of fillingvalves, which control the flo-wof the liquid from the filling tank: 7

tostor this purpose, including that of-providi-nga shut ofi'valve at the bottom ofv the tube, which at the: proper time closes the bottom of the tube, after the' flow of'liquid from thefiller tankto the tube hasbeen shut off. This preventsthe escapeof the: liquid in the tube, after it has been shut' 3o ofi, into the container or'bottl'e. If 'such a. shut ofi valve-at the bottom of the tube were not used,.. the amount of liquid escaping-fromthestube after the supply .had been shut offat the'tank would varyv and thereby vary the liquid level inthe bottle; Allof theliquidin the tube would notv always flow out of the tube, as the amount rem-ainin'g inthetube would depend: on various factors. such asthe degree of carbonation of the top of the bottle andother factors. While the provision of the shut ofi valve at the bottom of the-tube, in some'respects has beenv quite satisfactory, however, this arrangement has involved a rather large number of parts to control the operation of this shut off. valve.- This has very materiallyaddecl to the cost and complicationofl the apparatus, and these parts are, furthermore, subject to considerable wear, necessitating frequentadjustments and:replacement of parts to- 5'0 insure accurate operation of the filling valve, as a whole. and to insure thefilling of the container totheproper level.

It is one of. the objects of the present, invention One dilficulty which has heretovalve. at thebottom ofthe-filling tube and all of the-associated parts necessary for-the propertiming operation oi the same may be dispensed with and! at the.- s-ametime; provide afilling valve whichlwill always. fill the container to thepredetermined leveloiliquid in the container.

For. the purpose of disclosing. theinvention, an. embodiment of' the same is disclosed inthe ac companying drawings-1 in which;

Eigc 1; is a--longitudinal,l sectionalview ot-a filling valve embodyingthe invention;

Fig.. 2. is a side elevation. partially in. section, oiithe sniftl valve forming. apart of the filling valve; 7

Fig; 3.is:a. detailed sectional view of the gland" for. maintaining: an air tight jlunction between thefillin-g tube and its associated sliding sleeve;

Fig; e is. a. detailed side elevationofa portion of the air inlet valve;

Eig5isaplanviewof the control member of 7' theair inletvalve; and V Fig; 6' isle-detailed;- sectional view of a filling machine, showing the position of. the filling. valve, with-respect-te thewvater tank.

Referring to Figwftthere isprovided a. filling tanks: 1 adapted to contain carbonatedwater orother: liquid to be? supplied :to' the bottle orcontainer'to be: filled; This-tank. is provided with a series: ofifi l'lin'gt .valves'i'adapted to be engaged by the-containersimbeafilled and to control the fi'ow' oi liquidlto thecontai'ner from thetank.

In the specific. formiofi valve" illustrated. a base. casting. 3a is provided-having a w'ater inlet port- 4 controlled by asvalve 5 and a -gas-inlet port 6 in turn control'le'd.=by ava'lve 1; These. valves are respectively provided' with operating stems 8* and- 9; which project below the base 3 and are adapted tube-engaged by a reciprocating-part of thefiller valve-to thereby control the opening and closing:

inthe operation'of the machineythevalve 1' will be' oper-re'dprior to the'opening' of thevalve 5;

Tliewaterinlet port-'l communi'c'ates by' a'suih ableconhectioiflfl withthefi-llingtank l so thatthe "water will fiowfrom' the filling tank through thisconnection and" througlr the port 4 into the container to" be filled; under proper operating conditions. The'count'er pressui'elgas inlet port 6 communicates by means of the pipe connection i'Fand a riser min the tank I, with the top at the tank,'the top of the ta'nkibeing. filled with carbonic gas. When. the valveportt is open,

tie-"provide a filling valve, wherein the shut-- ofi carbonic gas, generallyidentified as counter pres- 3 sure will pass from the top of the tank into the container to be filled.

The water inlet port 4 communicates with the water filler tube l4 threadedly supported in a plug mounted in the upper end a relatively stationary sleeve it, which sleeve is threaded into a recess in the bottom of the base3. The lower end of this tube terminates in a nipple H, which is provided with transversely extending upwardly inclined outlet ports l8.

Surrounding the tube H, but spaced therefrom, is a counter pressure tube i8 threaded into the plug it and communicating at its upper end through a passage 19 with the counter pressure in the port t. This tube terminates at its lower end in the nipple I1, which nipple is provided with a plurality of divergent outlet ports 20.

A shifter tube 2! surrounds the two heretofore mentioned water and counter pressure tubes, being spaced from the counter pressure tube 18'. This snifter tube terminates in a suitable supporting collar 22 supported in the plug ill, but spaced apart from the bottom portion of the plug to provide an outlet chamber 23; This chamber communicates with the atmosphere through a suitable outlet port 24 controlled by a shifter valve, the movable member 25 of which is operated by a shift lever 26.

The sleeve l6 has telescopically mounted thereon a sliding collar Zl having a cap 28 threaded thereon, which cap is provided with a central opening suificiently small in diameter to prevent the annular lip 29 on the sleeve Hi from passing therethrough, to thereby limit the downward movement of the collar 21. The collar 21 is biased in its downward position through the medium of the coiled spring 30 interposed between an internal flange 3| in the sleeve I6 and a relatively stationary washer 32 in the collar 21. This collar 21 at its lower endhas adjustably secured therein, a throat support 33, which is screw threaded into the collar to permit the same to be adjusted vertically relatively thereto. This throat support at its lower end is provided with a neck receiving throat 34 adapted to receive the neck of a bottle or container, as it is reclprocated relatively to the filler valve. In the operation of the apparatus, the bottle is reciprocated vertically relatively to the filler valve and in its upward movement, enters the throat 34, engaging the throat which seats the bottle. The continued upward movement of the container moves the collar 2i and its associated parts upwardly, which movement causes the sequential operation of the parts, for the purpose of controlling the flow of liquid into the bottle.

Due to the fact that during the filling operation, the bottle should be sealed against the ingross of air, which sealing is aifected by its engagement with the throat 34 and due to the fact that there is a sliding movement between the parts and the snifter valve 2 i it is quite essential that an effective seal be provided to prevent the escape of air past the filler valve during the filling operation. To this end, within the throat holder 33 there is provided a preferably soft rubber gland 35 surrounding a metal sleeve 36 in turn surrounding, but spaced from the shift tube 2i. This sleeve 36 extends downwardly from an annular collar3l, which is provided with an upwardly extending annular lip 38, the upper end of which is beveled as at 39. Surrounding the tube It is a second compressible gland member 40 provided with a downwardly extending lip 3i surrounding the shift tube 2!. This gland is provided with a,

4 beveled undersurface adapted to be engaged by the beveled edge of the flange 38.

The gland 35 is maintained in position through the means of an internal sleeve 4! interposed between the bottom of the gland and the throat 34. It is to be noted that as the throat 34 is screw threaded into the support 33, the gland 35 will be placed under compression, thereby forcing the collar 31 upwardly. The collar 3'! and sleeve 36 are slightly separated from the shift tube, so that the same will not engage the snift tube and the rubber seal 40 is preferably coated, compounded, or impregnated with a paraffin wax or other friction reducing material, so that the same will slide over the shift tube with a minimum of friction. We are thus enabled to maintain an eifective seal against the inlet or outlet of air against this point, and at the same time, reduce friction between the sliding parts to a minimum.

The water inlet port 4 terminates in a chamber 42, with which the water tube l4 communicates. The top of this chamber is closed by a threaded plug 43 having a passage 44 therein. This plug is provided at its top with a cap 45 having an outlet passage '46 therein. Within this cap is provided a control valve 41 adapted to engage a seat surrounding the outlet passage 48, when raised under predetermined conditions.

In operation, as the bottle or container is raised and is seated in the throat 34-, making sealing engagement with the gland 35, it will move the collar 21 upwardly, causing it to first engage the valve stem 9 opening the counter pressure valve 1. This permits the flow of counter pressure C02 from the top of the filling tank through the valve and port 6 to the passage [9, whence it passes into the counter pressure tube l8, being delivered into the container through the openings 20. When the container is completely filled with counter pressure gas, a portion of the gas will now out of the container through the ports l8 and through the water tube 14 into the passage 44, This establishes a pressure against the under side of the movable valve member 41' and raises this valve to close the passage 46. Due to the fact that the port 45 is relatively small, the counter pressure gas will flow into the passage 44 faster than it can escape. By the time the counter pressure has completely filled the container and water tube, the Valve stem 8 will have been engaged by the top of the sleeve 27, thus opening the water valve 5, and permitting the flow of water through the port 4 and into the water tube l4 against the counter pressure, and thence into the container. This flow of water through the port 4, the chamber 42 and the water tube l4 seals the bottom of the passage 44 and thereby traps a small pocket of CO2 in this passage, maintaining the valve member 41 in its closed position. The water continues to flow into the bottle or container, forcing the counter pressure gas back through the counter pressure tube it into the top of the tank. When the water level rises in the container to the point where the openings 20 are closed by the water, the flow of the water will cease. the container has reached the upward limits of its fill, and has started its downward stroke. As it moves downwardly, the water valve 5 first closes, and with the continued downward movement, the counter pressure valve 1 closes. With the closing of the valve, the collar 28 on the sleeve 21 strikes the lower end of the lever 26, rocking this lever to open the snift valve 25, thereby snifting the bottle, by permitting the By this time,

anon-sacrescapmthrough sniftz tubeizdfi oil. such counter pressure gas; a'sfis :ti1appedrin'; theetopsof, the. conetaztner: The shitting; of: the top: off the. bottlereleases any pressure which would sustainttlie :b'eadinitted'above the top of the column of water in the water tube, and all of the water in the tube will be permittedi to'drain into the bottle or container irrespective of variations in pressures or thezdegreeoi carbonation Therefore, after once setting, the filling valve for the desiredJ-evel in the container, further adjustment is unnecessary in variations of the above factors.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a relatively stationary filling tube adapted to be projected into the container to be filled, when the container is moved into filling position, and a valve for controlling the flow of liquid through said tube, means for admitting a counter pressure fluid into the container, prior to the opening of said liquid valve, said tube at its top communicating with the atmosphere, means operated by the counter pressure admitted to the container for closing said communication, said closing means being operable to open said communication when the counter pressure in said filling tube and container is released.

2. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a relatively stationary filling tube adapted to be projected into the container to be filled, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid through said tube into the container, an exhaust port in the top of said tube, a valve controllingsaid exhaust port, means for admitting counter fluid pressure into the container and said tube to act on said valve for the purpose of closing the same, and means for releasing said counter pressure in the top of the container, after the same has been filled to a predetermined level with liquid ,to release the pressure maintaining said valve closed, whereby any liquid contained in said filling tube will drain out of said tube after said fluid valve has been closed.

3. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a relatively stationary filling tube of a sleeve telescoping said tube and movable with the container to be filled, when said container is moved into and out of filling position, a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said tube, a valve for controlling the admission of counter fluid pressure into the container and into said tube, said counter pressure valve and said fluid control valve being sequentially operated by the movement of said sleeve relatively to said tube, the top of said tube having an opening to the atmosphere, a valve controlling said opening, said valve being moved into closed position by counter pressure, admitted through said filling tube from the container upon the opening of said counter pressure tube and maintained in said closed position during the flow of liquid through said tube, and means for releasing the counter pressure in the top of the c-ontainenafter the same has been filled, whereby said filling tube valve will be permitted to open, admitting atmospheric pressure to the top'of said tube to permit any liquid contained in said tube to drain out of the same, after the fluid control valve has been closed.

4. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a tube adapted for projection in the contain'cri'to biefilled; a sleeve telescoping said and having means for" engaging and sealing ther, neck of the container: to. the atmosphere, and:

sealing means; for sea-lingthe'slidingc'jrointibe 1 tween said sleeve and tube comprising a-resilient;

gasket surrounding :saidtube andexpansibl'e under pressure exerted irr a direction parallel-with the: axis of" said: tube, and resilient means: surrounding said tube-and exerting pressure against.

said: gasket.

5. In a bottle fillingi machine, the combination with a tubeadaptedto be projected into the contamer tobe filled, a'sleevetelescoping:said;tube; movable relatively to said tube and having mearrsf;

tainer to theiatmosphere and sealing means-fort" sealing the sliding joint between said sleeve and tube, comprising a gasket surrounding said tube having an annular flange extending parallel to said tube, a collar surrounding said tube having a wedge-shaped flange engaging said gasket and expanding said gasket flange against said tube, and biasing means carried by said sleeve for biasing said collar in a direction to expand said gasket against said tube.

6. In a bottle filling machine including a filling tube adapted to deliver liquid to the container to be filled and normally open at its upper end to the atmosphere, pressure operated means for closing the upper end of said tube to the atmosphere prior to the delivery of liquid to the container to be filled, and means for relieving the pressure on said pressure operated means to the filling of the container.

7. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a filling tube adapted to be projected into a container to be filled and normally open at its top to the atmosphere, a valve for closing the top of said tube to the atmosphere, said tube having an opening below said valve for the admission of liquid to the tube, means for controlling the admission of counter pressure to the container and admitting said counter pressure to said tube to close the valve, andmeans for controlling the admission of liquid to said tube through said opening below said valve, said valve being operable to open, when the flow of water in said tube is shut ofi and the top of the container is placed in communication with the atmosphere.

with a tube adapted to be projectedintoa container to be filled and normally open at its top to the atmosphere, a valve for closing the top of said tube to the atmosphere, means for admitting pressure to said tube beneath said valve for closing the same, said tube having a liquid inlet opening below said valve and means for controlling the fiow of liquid through said inlet operable to efiect the flow of liquid through said valve, after pressure has been admitted to said tube to close said valve, said valve being operable to open, upon the shutting ofl of the flow of liquid through said tube and the placing of said tube in communication with the atmosphere.

9. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a tube adapted tobe projected into the container to be filled, a sleeve telescoping said tube and [having means for engaging and sealing the neck of the container to the atmosphere, and sealing means for sealing the sliding joint between said sleeve and tube comprising a resilient gasket surrounding said tube, said gasket having an annular wedge-shaped flange surrounding said tube, with the apex of the wedge directed towards the lower end of the tube, and a collar surrounding said tube for supporting said gasket and spaced apart from said tube to permit the wedge-shaped flange to project between the tube and collar.

10. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a tube adapted to be projected into the container to :be filled, a, sleeve telescoping said tube and having means for engaging and sealing the neck of the container to the atmosphere, and sealing means for sealing the sliding joint between said sleeve and tube comprising a resilient gasket surrounding said tube, said gasket having an annular flange surrounding said tube and collar surrounding said tube for supporting said gasket and spaced apart from said tube REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 938,577 Gull NOV. 2; 1909 15 1,985,355 Stern Dec. 25, 1934 

